by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Neither the City nor the Jacksonville Suns apparently want to cede the go-ahead run in what has turned into the equivalent of a pitchers’ duel regarding payment for services rendered and involvement in non-Suns activities at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
“What it boils down to is that we interpret the lease one way and the City interprets it another,” said Suns President Peter Bragan Jr.
At issue is payment for police, fire and public safety services provided by the City through SMG, the company that manages all of the City’s public facilities, for Suns games dating back to 2003.
In the latest curve ball, Bragan sent a letter to Mayor John Peyton Feb. 1, in response to a recent newspaper article, stating that Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department bills have been paid — when the Suns scheduled those officials to be there.
“I have paid every police and fireman I have hired,” he said. “I have all the respect in the world for JSO and JFRD.”
It’s the additional SMG workers scheduled, as the letter said, “without our (Jacksonville Suns) approval or without regard to how many police/fire-rescue representatives are truly needed” that the Suns currently are disputing.
The City replied with a fast ball of its own in a Feb. 8 letter from Peyton’s Chief of Staff Steve Diebenow. It stated, “pursuant to Section 13 of the SUNS’ lease, there is no doubt that the SUNS are responsible for Game Day Expense Obligations including ‘security’ and ‘medical staff.’” Additionally, the Suns are wrong to attempt to determine “necessary” public staffing decisions inside the Baseball Grounds. Only the “Fire Director and the Sheriff’s Office,” said Diebenow, can determine an appropriate amount.
Bragan, in his letter, said that the intent of the provision is clear, but the City’s interpretation would make it impossible for the Suns to budget security and first aid due to the fluctuating number of staff the City could say is needed, all at the costs of the team.
Bragan goes on to say in the letter that the intent was for the Suns to be responsible for security inside the park as they saw necessary while the City would handle security outside the park. He noted that it was handled as such under the old lease for Wolfson Park.
“I’m fully prepared to provide the security and first aid as needed, we did that for a while under the old administration but only recently has it become a problem,” said Bragan.
Diebenow said he didn’t know off hand the total amount the City is trying to recoup, and Bragan said the City hasn’t told him exactly what he owes.
Bragan said he wasn’t satisfied with Diebenow’s response, but he plans to discuss his next step with his attorney, Steve Labowitz.
“I don’t know what the heck is going to happen,” he said, adding his best case scenario is that “we all sit down and come to a middle ground.”
And the worst case scenario?
“Somebody sues us, we counter-sue and it drags on.”
That wasn’t the only topic of discussion, though, as Bragan’s letter and Diebenow’s response touched on another point of contention.
Bragan said he was “flabbergasted” after being informed the Suns will not be used to sell tickets or assist the City with the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament in May after partnering with the City for the first three years of the tournament.
Such a move, Bragan said, would cost the team about $30,000 if the figures mirrored past revenue. The move came as a shock, he said, especially after receiving past praise by the ACC.
SMG and Ticketmaster, both partners with the City, he said, will handle those duties this year.
Diebenow countered in the letter that the public owns the Baseball Grounds and the “Suns own exclusive concessionaire for all activities.” Because they do, it is in the best interest of all parties, Diebenow said, for events to succeed.
Even with the back-and-forth dialogue that has transpired, both parties say a meeting of the minds isn’t out of the question.
The end of Bragan’s letter asks for 30 minutes of Peyton’s time to talk about the issues. Diebenow said he hadn’t heard that request and Bragan needs to contact the mayor’s office directly.
The first pitch of the Suns season is April 3, and both Bragan and Diebenow said they hope the issues would be resolved before then without going into extra innings.
“I worry about it every night before I go to sleep,” said Bragan. “I want to get it settled.”